Tender Greens - CLOSED

"Tender Greens, the cheffed-up, California-based fast casual chain that debuted in NYC in 2018, has exited the city during the pandemic. The chain, which once had big expansion plans across the city, operated two locations at its peak, catering to office workers in Flatiron and Bryant Park. Both locations were vacated last summer, according to the owner of Cutlets, a sandwich spot that took over the Flatiron location, and a representative for the landlord at Bryant Park." - Erika Adams

"In the same vein as healthy-ish fast casual chains like Sweetgreen, Dig Inn, and Little Beet, this California-based chain’s premise is that each location is run by an executive chef with fine dining experience. It makes many of the ingredients (and condiments) in-house for dishes like a chipotle barbecue chicken sandwich and greenmarket chicken salad. Tender Greens certainly has its detractors, but it also has plenty of West Coast fans — plus, hospitality titan Danny Meyer as an investor." - Alexandra Ilyashov

"New York magazine critics Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld — AKA the Robs — review two newish fast-casual restaurants, Risbo in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and Tender Greens in Flatiron. Both get three out of five stars, Risbo for its cool vibes and standout rotisserie, and Tender Greens for its “overtly friendly” service and homestyle fare." - Stefanie Tuder

"Tender Greens is a lifestyle jargon spewing fast casual salad spot in Flatiron that serves one of the city’s best spicy fried chicken sandwiches — and some pretty spotty plant dishes." - Ryan Sutton

"West Coast fast-casual chain Tender Greens makes its East Coast debut today in the former Craftbar space in Flatiron — serving a similar menu of seasonal entrees, soups, and salads that landed the company the Danny Meyer seal of approval in California. The restaurant seats 66 people and features a 'chef's counter' with a view of the kitchen. Additions to NYC include a lobster salad and beers from Brooklyn Brewery and Sixpoint Brewery. Standards of the chain like a fried chicken sandwich, salt and pepper chicken, and herb-brushed tuna, are also available. Run by executive chef Peter Ballistreri, the menu allows visitors to customize a meal based on protein and sides. Compared to Sweetgreen and Dig Inn, Tender Greens offers easy, American, fairly affordable, fairly healthy, and pretty basic meals." - Serena Dai